Good Works Ephesians 2:8-9 … “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” When a runner crosses the finish line at the Olympics and wins the gold, she has the right to boast and celebrate all that she did to win the medal, including her strict diet, exercise routine, constant practice, and dedication. She did the work, she gets the credit, she earns the reward. As Christians, we often speak of the good works expected of us as believers. However, your works do not earn you God’s grace or salvation. That is a gift you either accept or reject. It is AFTER you become a believer that the emphasis on good works is valid. When you accept Christ, allow his Holy Spirit to transform your life, and submit to God’s will he has two expectations for you: 1) that you worship him, and 2) that you serve him. Therefore, God expects you to honor him by doing good work in his name. Some religions teach that you can get close to God by being a good person. However, the good work you do before you are saved by the blood of Jesus, will not be recognized by God on the day of judgment. Only the work that you do in his name after you are saved, counts. You can be a good person your entire life — generously give to charities, feed the poor, supply scholarships for students, care for the elderly, volunteer in hospitals and schools — but only those works that you do after you accept Christ as Savior, will be remembered by God. Even if you live to 80 and wait to accept Christ on your death bed, all your years of good work will count for nothing when you meet Jesus face to face. You will enter Heaven by the skin of your teeth, but no good thing you did in life will be in the record book Christ reads when he meets you. Make your life count. Serve God as he requires and receive the blessings and joy that come from serving him. Copyright © 2013 Datu Wali Mission Foundation
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:56:00 +0000